Electrode arrangement in glow-discharge tubes



Nov. 12, 1935. 2,020,914

ELECTRODE ARRANGEMENT IN GLOW DISCHARGE TUBES 0. SCHRIEVER Filed Nov. 2. 1927 INVENTOR 0W0 RlEVER BY a a /W ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRODE ARRANGEMENT IN GLOW- DISCHARGE TUBES tion of Germany Application November 2,1927, Serial No. 230,462 In Germany November 2'1, 1926 19 Claims.

The present invention relates to a protective arrangement for glow-discharge tubes which are especially adapted for recording rapid current variations and are used in connection with picture 5 telegraphy. The invention is of the character of those for safeguarding the lamp against premature blackening by electrode disintegration.

In co-pending application-Serial No. 228,156 filed October 24, 1927, filed by Peter Schnitzeler,

a scheme has been disclosed wherein the protective arrangement may serve at the same time as an optical diaphragm for the picture and can also be used as an electrode for the glow-discharge, in whichcase the diaphragm functions as an anode in the case of direct current.

The present invention is a further development relating generally to the above described scheme. According to my invention the anode is so con- .structed as a diaphragm and electrode to preclude perfectly all disturbing luminous phenomena that it surrounds the cylindrical cathode which is preferably in the shape of an additional cylinder with the interposition of an insulating interme diate layer. The accompanying drawing shows by way of example, one embodiment of the invention. l is the cylindrical lamp comprising electrode lead-ins 2 and 3, and the window 4 through which the radiations issue. The anode 5 is cylindrical and allows of the emergence of the rays 30 through a central opening 6. Concentric with the anode is arranged a likewise cylindrical cathode 1, the latter having a central constriction 8 at the end turned towards the window 4. An insulating intermediate layer 9, for instance, a glass tube, separates electrodes 5 and l. The arrangement as herein disclosed makes it possible to perfectly center the openings 6 and 8 so that the optical image of the glow-discharge light can be insured in a perfect manner. Another advantage of this arrangement is that stray anode glow discharge actions on the outside of 5 are prevented and that stray glows in the optical image of the anode are likewise avoided.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:-

l. A glow-discharge tube, including, a cylindrical cathode, a cylindrical anode surrounding said cathode, a window through which light rays emitted by the cooperative action of said anode and cathode structure are passed, and means provided by inwardly extending portions of said anode and cathode for screening undesired light from said window.

2. A glow-discharge tube, including, a cylindrical cathode, acylindrical anode surrounding said cathode, a layer of insulating material separating said cathode from saidanode, a window through which light rays emitted by the cooperative action of said anode and cathode structure are passed, and means provided by inwardly extending portions of said anode and cathode for screening undesired light from said window.

3. A glow-discharge lamp, including, a hollow cylindrical cathode member, a hollow cylindrical anode member surrounding said cathode memher, a window positioned opposite said cathode and anode, inwardly projecting end portions provided on said cathode and anode, said end portions having a central opening through which light rays emitted by the combined action of said 15 cathode and anode are passed, said inwardly projecting portions being adapted to screen the light produced by the action of said anode and cathode upon an application of potential thereto for producing luminous rays, whereby said window is 20 substantially free from light rays other than those desired.

4. A glow-discharge lamp, including, a. hollow cylindrical cathode member, a hollow cylindrical anode member surrounding said cathode, a layer of insulating material separating said cathode from said anode, a window positioned opposite said cathode and anode, inwardly projecting end portions provided on said cathode and anode, said end portions having a central opening through which light rays emitted by the combined action of said cathode and anode are passed, said inwardly projecting portions being adapted to screen the light rays given oil from said anode and cathode upon an application of potential thereto, whereby luminous rays other than those desired will not reach said window.

5. A glow-discharge lamp, including, a cathode member, an anode member mounted concentric thereto, a window opposite said electrodes, an inwardly extending portion on said anode member, said portion being provided with an opening located I in the axis of said cathode member through which light rays emitted by the cooperative action of said cathode and anode upon the 45 application of potential thereto are passed, said extending portion providing a screen whereby undesired light is excluded from said window.

6. A glow discharge lamp, including, a cylindrical cathode, a cylindrical anode concentric 50 with and surrounding said cathode, an envelope surrounding said anode and cathode structure, a window provided in one end of said envelope, means for applying electric potentials to said anode and cathode members for producing 55 luminous rays directed along the axial line thereof toward said window, and inwardly projecting members upon said anode and cathode structures for screening undesired light produced by the co- 5 operative action of said anode and cathode from reaching said window and preventing stray anode glow discharge actions occurring outside of the said anode member.

7. A glow discharge lamp, including, an envelope, a relatively long cylindrical cathode member positioned within said envelope, a cylindrical anode member arranged coaxially of said cathode and surrounding said cathode, a connection to said cathode and anode members for applying electric potentials to said electrodes for producing a luminous glow, and inwardly extending projections provided at each of said cylindrical and cathode structures ,for screening undesired luminous glows produced from the envelope enclosing said electrodes.

8. A glow discharge lamp, including, an envelope,a cylindrical cathode member mounted within said envelope, said cathode having a closed upper portion and a lower portion provided with inwardly projecting constrictions, a cylindrical anode member surrounding said cathode, said anode member having constrictions at the end thereof corresponding to the constrictions on said cathode member, a window positioned in one iface of said envelope opposite the constrictions on said anode and cathode members, means for applying electric potentials to said anode and cathode members for producing luminous glows toward said window, and means provided by said 5 i constrictions on said anode and cathode members for screening said window from undesired luminous glows.

9. A glow discharge lamp, including, an elongated cylindrical cathode member closed at one 0 end and provided at its opposite end with inwardly projecting members, a cylindrical anode member surrounding said cathode member and arranged concentrically thereto, said anode member being provided at one end with inwardly Ii-projecting members arranged adjacent to said inwardly projecting members on said cathode, an insulating member provided as a portion of said envelope for separating said anode and cathode, a window positioned in said envelope opposite 60 said inwardly projecting members of said. anode and cathode structures, means for applying electric potentials to said anode and cathode members for producing light rays emitted in the direction of said window, and means provided by 55 said inwardly projecting members on said cathode and anode for screening undesired light rays from said window and preventing stray glow discharge from said anode member.

10. In a glow lamp construction, a cylindrical cathode member, a cylindrical anode member arranged concentric thereto and projecting beyond .the length of said cathodemember and means provided by inwardly projecting portions on at least one of said electrodes for defining the area of glow discharge.

11. In a glow lamp, a tubular electrode extending along the axial line of said lamp, 9. second tubular electrode arranged concentric with said first named tubular electrode and projecting beyond said first named tubular electrode and means provided by inwardly projecting portions on at least one of said electrodes for defining the area of glow discharge.

12. In a glow lamp, a tubular cathode member anode member mounted concentric with said cathode member and separated therefrom bya tional part of the length thereof, a layer of insulating material separating said anode and cathode electrodes and inwardly projecting portions on each of said anode and cathode for defining the area of glow discharge. l5

14. A glow discharge variable intensity light source comprising a bulb, a hollow electrode within the bulb having an accurately formed light orifice in its wall, and an electrode within the hollow electrode. 20

15. A high candle power modulable source of light for photographic sound recording comprising a protecting transparent envelope capable of maintaining within itself the desired cooperative atmosphere for producing a glow light, two ex- 26' citing electrodes, one enveloping the other in the form of an envelopeand being provided with an accurately formed light orifice contiguous to but spaced apart from the zone of light and itself forming a secondary light source, electrical leads 80- extending from said electrodes to the exterior of said envelope.

16. In a glow tube, an outer electrode having a constriction on the outer end thereof to provide an aperture of predetermined size and shape, and a second electrode element inward thereof also provided on the outer end thereof with a constriction to form an aperture for cooperation with said first electrode to produce a glow discharge observable'through the aperture of said first elec- 40* trode.

17. In a glow tube, a first electrode element, and a second electrode element enveloping said first electrode element and having one end portion thereof substantially closed except for an 46 aperture of predetermined size and shape, whereby upon an application of electric potentials be,- tween each of said electrodes a glow discharge which is observable through said aperture is produced.

18. A glow tube comprising a first electrode element, and a second electrode element enveloping said first electrode element and extending outwardly therefrom for a fractional part of the length thereof, said second electrode being substantially closed at the end thereof extending beyond said first electrode except for an aperture of predetermined size and shape through whichthe glow discharge produced upon the application I of electric potentials between said first and second 86 electrodes is observed.

19. A glow tube comprising a first electrode element, a second electrode element enveloping said first electrode element and extending outwardly therefrom for a fractional part of the length thereof, and a gas filled container enveloping both of said electrodes, said second electrode being substantially closed at the end thereof extending beyond said first electrode except'for an aperture'of predetermined size and shape through o'r'ro sonnmvnn. 

